Which economic concept stresses individual success and competition as key to prosperity?

The concept that emphasizes individual success and competition as essential elements of prosperity is laissez-faire. This term describes an economic philosophy that advocates minimal government intervention in the economy, allowing individuals and businesses to operate freely in a competitive marketplace. By promoting the idea that personal ambition and competition drive innovation and economic growth, laissez-faire capitalism facilitates an environment where individuals pursue their self-interest, which is believed to benefit society as a whole through the efficient allocation of resources. This is central to the functioning of a free market economy, where success is determined by individual effort and competition among businesses.

On the other hand, collectivism, socialism, and communism are all economic systems that prioritize group ownership and collective decision-making over individual initiative and competition. Collectivism seeks to unify individuals in the economy under a common interest or goal, while socialism advocates for public or collective ownership of the means of production, and communism aims for a classless society where all property is owned communally. These systems contrast sharply with the principles of laissez-faire, which values and encourages individualism and competitive success as pathways to economic prosperity.